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ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I went on the launch of this 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK at the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee. We drove V6-powered versions, all with automatic transmissions. We did get the news that a four-cylinder, six-speed manual version was on the way, and we were excited to try it.

I’m happy to say I was not disappointed. Of course, I would love a manual in the decently fast SLK350, but if this is all they have, we’ll make do. At the launch, Mercedes said that brand-wide they only sell an extremely small percentage of manual cars, like in the single digits—hence its few offerings.

Fifty-two large is a lot for this car, which doesn’t offer very much utility, if any at all. You can get more power and more utility for less, though the three-pointed star is probably worth a few grand. I think $40K—with options—for the SLK250, $50K for the SLK350 and $60K for the SLK55 AMG would be fair.

The interior is comfortable, and the controls are easy to use. The single dial that falls to the right hand is used for pretty much everything, including navigation, climate and radio. The seat adjustment on the door always throws me off, after digging to the left and right of the seat I finally realize where it’s at and smack myself in the head. And I had a car with controls on the door!

Top operation is pretty quick though it fills up much of the trunk. Although I did put it up before a rainstorm, left the car and then came back to find the small rear windows open. You can’t roll them up from the door, only on the convertible operation panel. That’s something you’d need to remember if you owned this car.

Power feels low from the 1.8-liter turbo four, but it does make awesome turbo blow-off noises when shifting at high rpm. It moves OK on the expressway but when you drop a gear or two, you don’t get that kick and growl that you find with bigger Merc engines. Of course, you don’t have the thirst of those bigger engines, either. On a power-to-fuel-mileage ratio, the SLK250 is impressive.

For comparison, the four-cylinder BMW Z4 costs $48,000 while the I6 rings in at $55,000. The two-seat Audi TT roadster starts at $38,000, and that has 265 hp out of the box.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I’ve always thought of the SLK as the perfect secretary’s car, or something rich guys would buy for their mistresses. While that might be true, I would have no problem driving this car every day. The turbo four is pretty strong; in fact, it was one of the big surprises of the car. You don’t get the kind of push or aural delight that you’d get from a bigger displacement engine, but the turbo spools up quickly and gives you that bit of acceleration when the boost comes on. The six-speed manual has precise engagement and was a joy to operate.

The folding top works quickly, but with the top down, the trunk space is minimal. I was hoping this car would have the Magic Sky roof, but we’ll have to wait for another SLK in order to see that feature.

Overall, this new SLK is a good-looking two-seater that is fun to drive. It’s comfortable, and has a rock-solid feel that the previous-gen car lacked.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I spent a weekend piloting the SLK250, which is elegant, sporty and an attention-getter. When I drove it one morning on a house-hunting excursion, the realtor suggested we bump up our pre-approval figure. I assume it was because we pulled up in a Mercedes.

Starting with the styling, it’s hard to find fault with the SLK. It’s nicely proportioned, sporty, and has a graceful silhouette with the hardtop up or down. The grille and headlights act as jewelry, making this machine look dressed up yet not overdone. It carries the formality of Mercedes, without being too stiff.

The cabin is equally pleasing. This one offered creamy leather seats; they were supportive though still comfortable and easily positioned. I love the gauges and vents in the latest Benzes, which make the vehicles seem as upscale as the marketing and reputations claim.

The driving experience with the top down is sublime, obviously. It’s a Mercedes convertible. I’m a big fan of the hardtop, which operates smartly and looks sleeker than cloth. The Airscarf, while pricey, is a great feature. On a cool, early Monday morning, I popped the top and embraced the week—not something I usually do.

The six-speed offers excellent throws and the pedals are satisfyingly weighted. I did find first gear to be a bit tricky from launch, as the turbo, torque and slightly heavy clutch can make for a choppy initial experience. It just takes a little time to get down properly, and others would have no issue with it.

The engine is strong. The turbo is fun, and the sound it makes is cool. I’d prefer a larger displacement unit, but this thing is up to the task, no problem. The fuel economy is excellent. The SLK handles well, tackling corners with reasonable aggression, and the steering is light but not overly so. It’s a fun car. It really offers a carefree feeling.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR DAVID ARNOUTS: Fifty-two thousand for this car is an absolute joke and insult to anyone who thinks they know more than nil about car value.

“Das Beste oder Nichts” (The best of nothing), Mercedes? Really? This car is the perfect representation of a brand that distills its products down to accommodate the lowest common denominator with the highest amount of profitability.

I won’t fault anyone for wanting to make money, but this car felt more like a $30,000 car than a north of $50K vehicle.

Sure it looks better than before and the engine makes decent power, but the shifting was clunky, throttle response was erratic at low-speeds, unless you firmly planted your foot, and the interior squeaked like crazy.

No joke, if your seat is all the way back prepare to listen to the sound of leather and plastic interior bits getting “second base” close to each other the whole ride. It’s annoying and unbecoming of anything with a Benz badge on it.

On the upside, if you are a parent living in Beverly Hills and wonder what to get your 16-year-old daughter for her birthday, I have the perfect car for you.

As for me? “Nichts bitte.”

SENIOR MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I’m with Arnouts on this one. No. Way. Even knocking off the options and considering it at its base price of $43,375, I’m not thrilled. Not because the SLK is not a very nice premium brand two-seater at a (relatively speaking) entry-level price point, but because there’s nothing engaging about it.

This version is probably the most soul-less car Mercedes-Benz produces today. Meaning it’s just not very much fun to drive. Everything about it is a half-step away from what a fun, exciting, two-seater should be. The steering and shifter aren’t sharp enough; the engine is just short of gutless. There are plenty of potential buyers who don’t care one bit about any of that, but if you’re reading a car review on autoweek.com, I’m going to guess that you are not one of them. I’d much rather plant myself in the driver’s seat of a no-option, base 2013 Porsche Boxster than in this SLK loaded up with almost $10K worth of options.